I know many of you were hardcore FCS fans, and some of you spoke out against making the move up to the Big Boys.

So my question is, how do you feel about it now? If you could change the decision and keep your program at the 1-AA level, would you?

Well, I was for the move to the FBS all along, so I am very happy with where we are now.

Do I wish we had stayed in the FCS? Hell no. The FCS is dying, and I don't care who says it isn't. You either go down with that sinking ship, or you jump to higher ground and risk losing a few more games. We might not go into the FBS and dominate, but I don't see us becoming irrelevant either. This was a smart move for Appalachian State in all aspects, be that academic, athletic, and financial.

The block against FCS teams moving up to FBS in 2005 led to the strongest period of FCS football from 2005-2009. I'm not saying that because of our success, but since there was no moveups to worry about, teams just could build up their programs.

Back when the FBS Feasibility study was announced in 2010, I was C-USA or stay FCS. Many of our fans were anti-Sun Belt. However with the changes in the landscape and the leadership change in the Sun Belt, hard feelings melted away.

There are App fans/locals who would rather the program stay FCS no matter what so they can pull up to their parking spot 15 minutes before kickoff, not deal with any loud fans, spend the first quarter in line for concessions, go to the bathroom in the second quarter and leave at halftime to avoid the crowds after the game. Some think Boone should stay like it was in the 1980's with no alcohol and no traffic and be a little quiet tourist town and get rid of the school. Some want to keep App as their "D2 team" so they can root for their Tobacco Road school of choice. Then you got the faculty who think this will mean more athletes will miss more classes (partially true but we've already been doing more charter flights for teams in the last couple years to avoid that).

Looking at the feedback to the articles I've seen, it's way more positive than I though it would be. There's a small minority of dissenters as expected, but their arguments are rather hilarious. I think if this happened even last year, there would be a lot more dissension.

Its great to be somewhere we are actually wanted.

When FBS was just a dream I wanted CUSA or bust. But after re-alignment and CUSA only really adding market teams and not competitive teams I realized the tighter footprint of the Sunbelt is the better way to go.

That and I'm happy to be in a conference of our Peer institutions. No more small private schools trying to block any other public schools from getting into the SoCon.

(03-26-2013 09:57 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  I know many of you were hardcore FCS fans, and some of you spoke out against making the move up to the Big Boys.

So my question is, how do you feel about it now? If you could change the decision and keep your program at the 1-AA level, would you?

Stay in the FCs when it will become irrelevant very shortly?

No longer play the "bigtime" schools once they all decide to follow the Big10?

Play other FCS D1 teams that offer no football scholarships, aka Pioneer League?

No thanks. I'm going to love our new home once it becomes official.

Yo fellas...

To finally have the opportunity to see Georgia Southern play at the highest level of college football is truly a dream come true. It is to the Sun Belt that I give thanks to for providing this opportunity, and it is the Sun Belt that shall gain my steadfast allegiance.


Slightly related, somewhat off topic:

It's a wall of text, but allow it to send you into the mind of this GS fan...

I'm almost positive that you'll grow to love us... we're just a smooth program. Our uniforms are clean and simple, our coach is calm and stern, and our on-field performances are almost machine-like in execution. We're cool... we've got class... we just get **** done and go home. The entire ethos surrounding Georgia Southern football is one of biting confidence tucked behind a deeply ingrained sense of humility. As Paul Johnson once said, "There's a fine line between being confident and cocky; that's what we pushed. We're Georgia Southern, we're supposed to win." From the torn and ragged numbers on our helmets to our methodical, time consuming rushing attack, everything about us is strictly business. No flash, no jive, no smack... just rolled up sleeves, busted knuckles, and happy customers.

It's almost as if this program operates with a self-imposed chip on its shoulder. This may be hard to believe considering our level of success in FCS, but ever since jump street we've been told why we won't win, why we can't compete, why we'll never be "one of them." We heard it in 1981 before Southern even owned a football, we heard it during our first playoff appearance after only two years in FCS, we heard it when we joined the Southern Conference, and we still hear it from red/black clad detractors within our own state. Our program is young enough to have fans and coaches that still remember when GSU was a true nobody, when scorn and lack of respect was in steady supply. Those fans still remember the athletic department having to borrow equipment from area high schools just to be able to provide that first bunch of scruffy walk-ons with something to beat the hell out of each other with. Those fans remember how tirelessly Coach Erk Russell drove hundreds of miles over the cracked asphalt of south Georgia, often alone, just to sell his vision for GSU to anyone that would potentially listen. Despite the critics and negative predictions, players and staff busted ass and GSU clearly overcame all odds. But it is the image of the runt, imposed upon us by the more fortunate and well-established programs, that still hangs at the forefront of our minds. That image is what has forged us into the program we are today; we are the refined product of struggle and an example of triumph over neglect and rejection.

Erk said it best when he told his teams that "runts have to try harder." It's a mindset that never left and continues to live on in our traditions and lore. Some will tell you that Erk designed our uniforms; that is incorrect. It was a lack of funds that designed them. The plain white pants, block letters on a plain blue jersey, the grey facemask, and the helmet numbers were all the cheapest options at the time. Only one luxury was allowed: the white stripe down the middle of the helmet, and that was originally athletic tape. Our team's current and original mode of transportation to the stadium--the yellow school buses--was selected because they were acquired for $1 apiece from the Bulloch County Board of Education. Hell, Erk even created the magic in Beautiful Eagle Creek just so the team could have something to look to, to cherish, to rally around. The imagery of something as neglected as a drainage ditch being transformed into a sacred stream that flows with supernatural properties is fitting when paralleled with GSU's entire story. It took trust and a lot of balls to believe in the magic, to even think it could exist. But it was only through believing would they put forth effort, and through that effort they created something truly magical. Honestly, our program didn't have ****, and that reality forced us to work harder and smarter than everybody else. We didn't have the best of everything, so we had to make the best of everything we had. Whatever the case, that blue-collar, callused palm, hardworking runt mindset has been passed down from class to class. It is our identity, and it helps us appreciate and understand the value of any success that follows.

I can assure you that a very large majority of our fan base is ecstatic over the Sun Belt deciding to give Georgia Southern the opportunity to continue our success at the next level. We know that past success, a large media market, an overgrown stadium, and the continued puffing of hot air won't garner your respect; we know we have to earn it. And, boy, do we know what it means to have to EARN respect. It is because of this knowledge that this team, this administration, and the cooler-heads throughout this fan base come into the Sun Belt expecting nothing but the fair opportunity to earn the respect and approval of our new conference mates. If all goes as planned, it'll be happening soon.

GATA

The folks who advocate staying FCS are in the minority and T-Dog told you kind of who they are.

When we first played ECU in 2009 and almost won and the feasibility study was begun in 2010, it seemed like C-USA was a logical place for us and most felt like with Terry Holland's advocacy we had a shot.

For a year now, however, I have been of the opinion that the Sun Belt has the opportunity to be a better conference than C-USA and look forward to seeing that play out - not because of us and Georgia Southern, mind you, but I just see that SBC has an opportunity to really put it all together with a strong East /West make up and bringing a Conf. playoff game to the mix will only enhance the whole experience. Really wish WKU would stay, but can't control that one.

Nope. It's an exciting feeling to soon be a member of a FBS conference. There's a great sense of optimism about the conference and Appalachian's place within it.

That said, I'm also proud of what App accomplished at the FCS level. Packed stadium, crazy crowds, playoffs, conference and national championships. I still like the FCS and a lot of the teams in the subdivision so I won't be bad mouthing the place we've been.

However, that chapter is finished and it's time to turn the page.

Quite honestly the only "fans" that I've noticed being openly angry or upset about our move to the FBS/Sun Belt are those who are App alums that identify themselves as fans of UNC-Chapel Hill or NC State. Like we (true App fans) should care what their opinions are on the subject.

Among those who are truly App fans, the FCS supporters mostly understand the move. While they may not be happy, they aren't against the move either. They may prefer FCS but they'll support App regardless.

The fear of being in the third tier of DI football and losing our major rivals in our premier sport has softened many people's hard core FCS/SoCon stand.

Only a small group of FCS'ers were ever around, they were just very vocal. Mainly people that enjoyed the tailgates more and didn't want to pay increased parking amounts.

(03-27-2013 12:33 PM)97App Wrote:  Quite honestly the only "fans" that I've noticed being openly angry or upset about our move to the FBS/Sun Belt are those who are App alums that identify themselves as fans of UNC-Chapel Hill or NC State. Like we (true App fans) should care what their opinions are on the subject.

We certainly have our share of those. I don't think that's going to change overnight with a move, but I hope we continue making progress in that regard.

The more astounding thing is the number of alums I've run into that mention they want no part in Appalachian moving to "Division I". Mind boggled. Hello, I say, App has been Division I since the 1970s. It's that perception I really hope changes as well.

(03-27-2013 12:33 PM)97App Wrote:  Quite honestly the only "fans" that I've noticed being openly angry or upset about our move to the FBS/Sun Belt are those who are App alums that identify themselves as fans of UNC-Chapel Hill or NC State. Like we (true App fans) should care what their opinions are on the subject.

Among those who are truly App fans, the FCS supporters mostly understand the move. While they may not be happy, they aren't against the move either. They may prefer FCS but they'll support App regardless.

The fear of being in the third tier of DI football and losing our major rivals in our premier sport has softened many people's hard core FCS/SoCon stand.

Same here, The only GSU fans that don't like this move is the so-called GSU Alumns that pull for UGA. That cant stand this move.

I have always been a fan of going FBS and the SBC has always been my primary target.